Ohio Clock

Saturday

Mar 12, 2011 at 12:01 AMMar 12, 2011 at 12:19 AM

ALEX BRANDON / ASSOCIATED PRESS

With our blog, we turn the clock back, but don't forget to turn yours ahead an hour before heading to bed this evening (Saturday) in observance of Daylight Saving Time. (Thanks to my colleague Linda for the clever wording.)

The Ohio Clock, which sits outside the Senate Chamber in the U.S. Capitol, was purchased by the Senate in 1815 from clockmaker Thomas Voigt of Philadelphia. In a letter dated Dec. 27, 1815, Senator David Daggett of Connecticut placed the order for the clock, specifying that the dial should "be about two feet in diameter, an hour, minute and second hand, a Spread eagle on the top and the United States arms at foot." An interesting side note is that Voigt had previously built the Astronomical Case Clock for former President Thomas Jefferson in 1812.

Because of its name, you would assume the Ohio Clock has some connection to Ohio, but no one knows if this is true or not. According to a page on the U.S. Senate's website, people often believe the Ohio Clock commemorates Ohio becoming the seventeenth state because of the 17 stars that are on the shield on the front of the clock's case. However, there is no record of this. In fact, Ohio became a state many years before the clock was ordered and Louisiana became the 18th state several months before the clock was built.

Last August, the Ohio Clock was disassembled and taken to Boston for restoration work. It was returned to its rightful place in the Senate chamber in October 2010.

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